Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 7.djvu/267

 twelve hours sooner without warning anyone, and we must now wait a week for another steamer!"

Fix felt his heart jump for joy in pronouncing these words, "a week." A week! Fogg detained a week at Hong Kong! There would be time to receive the warrant of arrest. Chance would at last declare for the representative of the law.

It may be judged then what a stunning blow he received, when he heard Phileas Fogg say in his calm voice. "But there are other vessels than the Carnatic, it seems to me, in the port of Hong Kong."

And Mr. Fogg, offering his arm to Aouda, turned towards the docks in search of a vessel leaving. Fix, stupefied, followed. It might have been said that a thread attached him to this man.

However, chance seemed really to abandon him whom it had served so well up to that time. Phileas Fogg, for three hours, traversed the port in every direction, decided, if it was necessary, to charter a vessel to take him to Yokohama; but he saw only vessels loading or unloading, which consequently could not set sail. Fix began to hope again.

But Mr. Fogg was not disconcerted, and he was going to continue his search, if he had to go as far as Macao, when he was accosted by a sailor on the end of the pier. "Your honor is looking for a boat?" said the sailor to him, taking off his hat.

"You have a boat ready to sail?" asked Mr. Fogg.

"Yes, your honor, a pilot-boat, the best in the flotilla."

"She goes fast?"

"Between eight and nine knots an hour, nearly the latter. Will you look at her?"

"Yes."

"Your honor will be satisfied. Is it for an excursion?"

"No; for a voyage."

"A voyage?"

"You will undertake to convey me to Yokohama?"

The sailor, at these words, stood with arms extended and eyes starting from his head. "Your honor is joking?" he said.

"No, I have missed the sailing of the Carnatic, and I must be at Yokohama on the 14th, at the latest, to take the steamer for San Francisco."